Essendon's injury news improved dramatically this morning with James Hird declared a certain starter against Hawthorn this Saturday night. Hird suffered a corked thigh during the match against Melbourne yesterday and was forced to leave the ground for treatment. But he was moving freely at rehabilitation this morning and will be fit to play this weekend. ""He copped a bit of a knock during the third quarter. It slowed him up for a while but he did come back on to the ground which showed it wasn't serious,"" Essendon football manager Matthew Drain said.
And Blake Caracella is also a chance to play this Saturday night. Caracella strained a muscle in his chest early in Sunday's match and spent the last three quarters on the bench. ""It was precautionary as much as anything because we weren't exactly sure what he had injured,"" Drain said. ""We are still assessing it but it appears he may have just strained a muscle and if that is right he is a chance to play this weekend.""
In other injury news, Dean Wallis' hamstring strain is worse than first feared and he will miss at least another two weeks. Joe Misiti, Mark Mercuri, Steven Alessio and Michael Long are all continuing their rehabilitation following arthroscopic surgery.
On a brighter note, Chirs Heffernan will make his long-awaited return against the Box Hill Hawks this Sunday. Heffernan has not played a match this season and will play half a game this weekend.
